By Don Heckman
Los Angeles
– Feb. 27. (Wed.) Willie Nelson & Family. The inimitable Willie Nelson performs his memorable hits with the musical companionship of his talented family members. Click HERE to read an earlier iRoM review of Willie Nelson and his Family. Valley Performing Arts Center. (818) 677-3000.
= Feb. 27. (Wed.) Shofar. The three Polish musicians in the group Shofar are questing after a “common denominator shared by Hasidic music and free jazz.” Blue Whale. (213) 620-0908.
– Feb. 27. (Wed.) Sascha’s Bloc. An entertaining band of players, many from Russia, who bring new perspectives to a musical approach that blends traditional sounds and rhythms with far-ranging contemporary music. Click HERE to read an iRoM review of a recent Saschas’s Bloc performance. Catalina Bar & Grill. (323) 466-2210.
– Feb. 28 – 3. . (Thurs. – Sun.) Dudamel Conducts Stravinsky’s Firebird. The ever-dynamic Dudamel leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic in an adventurous approach to one of the 20th century’s intrepid musical works. Disney Hall. (323) 850-2000.
– Feb. 28 – Mar. 2. (Thurs. – Sat.) Oleta Adams. Versatile singer Adams moves freely – and convincingly – across genres, from soul and gospel to rhythm & blues and jazz. Catalina Bar & Grill. (323) 466-2210.
– Mar. 1. (Fri.) Anna Mjoll. Iceland’s gift to jazz applies her warm, embracing voice to everything from jazz classics to the Great American Songbook. She performs with the Pat Senatore Trio. Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. (310) 474-9400.
– Mar. 1. (Fri.) Juan de Marcos & the Afro-Cuban All-Stars. The Grammy-nominated All-Stars cover a full range of Latin music, including bolero, cha-cha-cha, salsa, rumba, danzon, timba and beyond. Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts. (562) 916-8501.
– Mar. 1 – 3.(Fri. – Sun.) Oguri and Wadada Leo Smith. Adventurous trumpeter Smith and his band interact creatively with Japanese dancer Oguri. Electric Lodge, Venice. (310) 306-1854.
– Mar. 2. (Sat.) Patricia Barber. One of the jazz vocal world’s most uniquely individual artists, Barber will sing selections from her new album, Smash. To read the iRoM review of the album, click HERE. She performs in a Jazz Bakery Movable Feast at the Musicians Institute Concert Center. (310) 275-8961.
– Mar. 2. (Sat.) An Evening With Rudresh Mahanthappa. Alto saxophonist/composer Mahanthappa works at synthesizing South Indian elements with a variety of other international musical genres. He does so here in the company of two ensembles – the Indo-Pak Coalition and Gamak. A CAP-UCLA concert at Royce Hall. (310) 825-2101.
– Mar. 3. (Sun.) Katia Moraes. Los Angeles is filled with musically diverse Brazilian artists. And the dynamic Moraes, who invests her singing with the stimulating energies of her dancing, continues to be one of the best. Click HERE to read an iRoM review of a recent performance by Moraes. Vitello’s. (818) 769-0905.
– Mar. 3. (Sun.) Patrick Tuzzolino Trio. Singer/keyboardist Tuzzolino is an impressive talent who has not yet received the full acknowledgement he deserves. Here’s a rare chance to hear him in action, performing with trombonist Bob McChesney and drummer Billy Paul. Vibrato Grill Jazz…etc. (310) 474-9400.
San Francisco
– Feb. 28 – Mar. 1 (Thurs & Fri.) Ana Moura. Fado is being revived by a gifted generation of young Portuguese singers. And Ana Moura is one of the best. An SFJAZZ event at Miner Auditorium. (866) 920-5299.
Washington, D.C.
– Feb. 28 – Mar. 3. (Thurs. – Sun.) Mike Stern and Dave Weckl. Jazz fusion in all its many invigorating forms is at its best in the talented hands of guitarist Stern and drummer Weckl. They’re ably supported by bassist Anthony Jackson and saxophonist Bob Franceschini. Blues Alley. (202)337-4141.
New York
– Feb. 27 – Mar. 2. (Wed. – Sat.) Gary Peacock, Marc Copland and Joey Baron. It’s an all-star jazz trio, by any definition, with pianist Copland, bassist Peacock and drummer Baron triggering a continuing flow of imaginative improvisation. Birdland. (212) 581-3080.
– Feb. 27 – Mar. 3. (Wed. – Sun.) Ravi Coltrane Quartet. Saxophonist Coltrane, who makes the most of his genetic gifts as the son of John Coltrane, plays with the superb backing of Billy Childs, Fender Rhodes, Lonnie Plaxico, bass, Nikki Glaspie, drums. Trumpeters Tim Hagans and Jason Palmer trade off on Thurs.(28) and Fri.(1). The Jazz Standard. (212) 576-2232.
London
– Feb. 27 – Mar. 3. (Wed. – Sun.) Arturo Sandoval. Versatility doesn’t begin to describe trumpeter/pianist/percussionist/singer Sandoval’s remarkable talents. Click HERE to read a recent iRoM review of a Sandoval performance. Ronnie Scott’s. +44 0(20) 7439 0747.
Paris
– Feb. 27. (Wed.) The Robert Cray Band. Five time Grammy award winner Cray has throroughly established himself as one of the most convincingly authentic contemporary blues artists. Paris New Morning. 01 45 23 51 41.
Berlin
– Mar. 3. (Sun.) Jason Moran & the Bandwagon. Pianist Moran, the winner of a MacArthur “genius” award, takes time away from his role as jazz advisor for the Kennedy Center to lead his gifted Bandwagon trio, with bassist Tarus Mateen and drummer Nasheet Waits. A-Trane. 030/313 25 50.
Copenhagen
– Mar. 1 & 2. (Fri. & Sat.) Bobo Moreno. Highly praised Danish singer performs with pianist Ole Kock Hansen, bassist Bo Stief and American drummer Adam Nussbaum. Jazzhus Montmartre. (+45) 70 263 267.
The International Review of Music 